For LeBron James' free-agent decision, the only voice that truly matters is his own: Windhorst analysis

John Kuntz / The Plain DealerConfidants and sponsors can advise LeBron James, but the history of the NBA's MVP is that he'll be the one making the final decision when its time to decide where to play in 2010-11.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Over the last two years, there have been hundreds of different theories as to what LeBron James will do when his free agency finally arrives this week.

The conjecture has changed routinely after various suitors made trades over the months. Some teams have added a player, but most have accepted making the team worse in the name of clearing that fickle asset known as cap space. The logic behind the moves has sometimes been well-founded.

But much of it has missed the point. The biggest misunderstanding of the historic James chase is the psychology of the man himself, which is something that can only be understood by knowing him and how he attacks a problem.

This is the central tenet: The decision of where James will play will be made by James and James alone.

Not his shoe company. Not his agent. Not the other high-profile free agents. Not his business manager/best friend. Not his friend/idol/world-class rapper. Not his associate/back-channel operator. Not his mother. Not his girlfriend. Not his children. Not his uncles. Not his former coaches. Not his teammates. Not his billionaire business associates. Not a marketing plan. Not the City of Akron. Not the People's Republic of China.

James' personality is to decide on his own and then never look back with regret.

Joshua Gunter / The Plain Dealer"Even with the discussion with the rest of the free agents, with my friends, those free agents, with my supporting cast, ultimately, it's going to --- it's going to be me."

It has been this way with big decisions since James took charge of his affairs when he was a senior in high school. You don't have to believe a reporter or people who know James very well, just listen to the man himself.

In his interview with Larry King earlier this month, James made it as clear as he could. It wasn't hyped after the interview was recorded, it wasn't featured by CNN -- but it was the most salient thing James said in the hour-long conversation.

It may be the most important thing James has said in the last year when it comes to his free agency, even if it was easy to miss.

Easy unless you really know James.

"Ultimately, that one person [I listen to] is me," James said.

"You know, if I -- you know, even with the discussion with the rest of the free agents, with my friends, those free agents, with my supporting cast, ultimately, it's going to -- it's going to be me. I'm going to have to sit down and say where do you want to play? How do you going to -- what's going to be your future?"

James was ready to elaborate more but King stomped over him, trying to get himself an invite to the so-called free agent summit even if King didn't realize that James had just said that none of it truly mattered.

What does it mean when it comes to his preferred destination? It means that it the final choice will be as personal as it is firm. If he sticks to his belief structure, it will represent James' pick and not the influence of anyone else.

One of the easiest ways to upset James in any conversation is to imply that he doesn't have final control, either on the court or off. Suggest that he doesn't make every key decision with his commercials, playing time or investments and you'll have an angry 6-8, 250-pounder to deal with.

It isn't that James doesn't listen to friends and so-called advisors. He has put people in place around him for the very purpose of getting trusted advice.

But they'll all tell you that James doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. Whether it is an interview, a charity event or a business venture, James may not do the little details, but he makes the big call.

When he first came into the NBA, James did not seek the advice of numerous NBA veterans who wanted to offer it. Over and over he was asked whether he'd sought out the Michael Jordans, Magic Johnsons or Kobe Bryants of the world. The answer was consistent; he wanted to have his own experience and make up his own mind about how to play and live.

Even now as he's reached elder status and younger players seek out his advice, he says he never pushes his views and encourages the younger players to maintain control.

Has this process sometimes led to mistakes? Of course it has. But James has no qualms with his belief system. One of his favorite things to say is that he doesn't have any regrets about his major decisions.

If he stays true to himself, he won't have any regrets about this huge decision, either.

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